Easy Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken Thighs: Best Party Appetizer
This sticky, savory-sweet honey garlic chicken is made effortlessly in the crockpot. It’s the perfect party appetizer that always disappears first, with tender chicken thighs coated in a glossy, garlicky honey sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours (LOW) or 2-3 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 lbs (900g-1.4kg) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup (170g) honey
- 1/3 cup (80ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30g) tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- Optional: sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, red pepper flakes for garnish
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together honey, low-sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, tomato paste, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until the tomato paste is fully dissolved.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season lightly with black pepper. Arrange them in a single layer at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken thighs, turning to coat each piece.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender.
- Using tongs, carefully transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board or serving platter. Let rest for a few minutes.
- Pour the cooking liquid from the slow cooker into a small saucepan. In a separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons cold water to make a slurry. Bring the liquid to a simmer over medium heat, then slowly whisk in the slurry. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy, syrupy consistency.
- Pour the thickened sauce back over the chicken, turning to coat. Garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
For best results, cook on LOW for tender, fall-apart chicken. Do not skip the stovetop thickening step for a glossy glaze. Pat chicken dry to avoid watery sauce. For parties, cook on LOW during the day, then thicken sauce and return to crockpot on WARM setting 30 minutes before guests arrive.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Protein: 30
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, crockpot chicken thighs, party appetizer, slow cooker chicken, sticky chicken